21 days on, Punjab property tribunal order remains unimplemented in Lahore

Questions are being raised over the implementation of Punjab’s newly amended property protection law after a tribunal order concerning a disputed house in Lahore reportedly remained pending for more than three weeks.

LAHORE: Questions are being raised over the implementation of Punjab’s newly amended property protection law after a tribunal order concerning a disputed house in Lahore reportedly remained pending for more than three weeks.

The dispute concerns House No. 254, a one-kanal property located in Block-A of Central Park Housing Scheme on Ferozpur Road. The complainant Hameed Ullah claims that he was unlawfully deprived of possession of the property on August 3, 2026.

The Punjab Property Tribunal Lahore took up the matter and, on August 18, issued directions for immediate action. The order was passed by Presiding Officer Saif Ullah Sohal in Case No. 385/PPT/1004/DSJ/2026, titled Hameed Ullah vs Muhammad Sarwar and others.

The tribunal directed the SHO of Kahna Police Station to take immediate steps to secure the disputed property in order to prevent any possible law-and-order situation. It also ordered that the existing position regarding possession should be maintained and that the property should not be sold, leased or transferred.

The case was subsequently referred to the Scrutiny Committee which was given 30 days to reach a decision.

The tribunal’s order was sent to the Kahna police station for compliance within 24 hours. However, the complainant says that the directions have not been implemented despite the passage of 21 days.

According to Hameed Ullah, the property has not been attached and remains under the control of the other party. He has also questioned why a compliance report has not yet been submitted to the tribunal.

Speaking to Minute Mirror Hameed Ullah said the delay had undermined his confidence in the new system. He questioned how the government could deliver speedy justice to property owners if orders issued by special tribunals were not implemented promptly at the local level.

Kahna police officials when contacted said they were dealing with the matter according to the law. However, no confirmation regarding attachment sealing or submission of a compliance report was available at the time the report was filed.

The dispute has gained wider significance because Punjab’s amended property law was introduced to provide faster protection to property owners and tackle illegal occupation.

Legal experts believe effective enforcement by field authorities will be crucial to achieving the objectives of the legislation. They say delays in implementing tribunal directives could weaken public confidence in the new mechanism.

The Lahore case has consequently become a test of how effectively the new property protection framework works beyond the courtroom.

For the complainant the issue is no longer limited to a single disputed property. He believes the outcome could demonstrate whether Punjab’s new anti-encroachment and anti-illegal-possession measures can provide ordinary citizens with timely relief.

Further action by the tribunal, police authorities and relevant government officials will determine how the matter progresses.